Intel Pick's Ouster a Victory for Lobbyists

Loss of excellent public servant a loss for country: Broder

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – When Charles Freeman withdrew from consideration to chair the National Intelligence Council, the Obama administration “suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the lobbyists the president vowed to keep in their place,” writes David Broder of the Washington Post. Freeman boasted “one of the most distinguished international careers in American government,” but that didn’t matter to lawmakers, who ran him off at the behest of pro-Israel and pro-Tibet lobbyists.

The lawmakers fed blogs with inflammatory Freeman remarks, including the labeling of a Tibetan demonstration a “race riot.” But in person, Broder assures readers, Freeman is a low-key, intelligent man with a gift for understanding multiple perspectives. His advice would have made America safer. Instead, “Freeman vanished without a squawk from Obama.”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Barack Obam speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference 2008, Wednesday, June 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2009, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on worldwide threats. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Former ambassador to Saudi Arabia Charles Freeman, who withdrew from consideration to head the National Intelligence Council. (lindaclements)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Al Jazeera reports on the controversy surrounding the nomination of Charles Freeman to lead the US National Intelligence Council. Freeman later withdrew. (AlJazeeraEnglish)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

We are so fortunate, with the challenges we face in Asia and the Middle East, that he could be persuaded to come back to government. - Dennis Blair, director of National Intelligence, on Charles Freeman

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

White Grandfather Cuffed for Walking With Black Granddaughter (NewsOne)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Help! I'm Having an Incestuous Relationship With My Twin (Slate)

Proof that Twitter Users are Sexier Than Facebook Users? (GeekSugar)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 2 of 2 comments

Derni

Mar 11, 2009 11:07 PM CDT

I say once again-How many Jews in America? I have many friends of the Jewish faith. But the pollitical problems in the middle east between the Jews and the other surrounding factions is going to continue-and we need to take a stand-possibly less political in natture.

Nwambe

Mar 11, 2009 10:21 PM CDT

The pro-Israel lobby in the US is possibly one of the greatest problems in modern diplomacy. Yet again it rears its ugly head.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds Major Cash Inside

Study Finds Arsenic in Baby Formula, Cereal Bars

Washington Post (Source Grid »)

We need open debate on Israel
Los Angeles Times

Freeman's parting shot
Wall Street Journal Subscription

The Post's editorial board disagrees with Broder
Washington Post

Freeman doesn't back off
New York Times

national security • War on Terror • Charles Schumer • intelligence • Obama administration • President Obama • Dennis Blair • Israeli lobby • National Intelligence Council

More Newser Stories

Obama Team Afraid to Mention 'Radical Islam'

They keep downplaying terrorists' jihadist connections

(NEWSER) - The Weekly Standard rips into the Obama administration's anti-terror record in a scathing new essay. Stephen F. Hayes and Thomas Joscelyn accuse the administration of failing to detect three plots beforehand (Times Square, the Christmas Day attempt, and Fort Hood), taking credit for dumb luck when two of the attempts failed, and trying hard to minimize the significance of each attack and the suspects' "connections to the global jihadist network." More»

Obama, Tell W You're Sorry for Mocking His Policies

Prez slammed W's national security policy; now he's following it

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s national security policy has been surprisingly close to his predecessor’s—a policy he hammered on the campaign trail. For that, he “owes George W. Bush an apology,” writes Clive Crook in the Financial Times. But his supporters also deserve an apology. His election rhetoric “misled” them: “In office he has found that the issue is more complicated” than he presented it. More»

Obama Loses High-Level Intel Pick

Freeman, criticized as anti-Israel, withdraws from NIC post

(NEWSER) - Relentless criticism has forced another of President Obama's high-level appointees to drop out, the Hill reports. Charles Freeman, in line to be head of the National Intelligence Council, drew strong opposition for perceived anti-Israel views and financial ties to Saudi and Chinese governments. Freeman dropped out just hours after his potential boss, national intelligence chief Dennis Blair, defended him before a Senate panel. More»

Boehner's Anti-Terror Screed on Obama Is Absurd

He's twisting facts to score political points

(NEWSER) - John Boehner's serious charge that President Obama doesn't have a "comprehensive strategy" to fight terrorists "doesn't deserve a hearing at the adults table," writes John Dickerson. Obama—who's doubled the number of CIA air strikes in Pakistan, tripled the troops in Afghanistan, and given "speeches devoted to the more efficient killing of terrorists"—clearly has a strategy. More»

Giuliani Forgets When 9/11 Happened

'We had no domestic attacks under Bush,' Giuliani says. Except...

(NEWSER) - Rudy Giuliani has some advice about terrorism for President Obama: Follow George W. Bush's example, because “we had no domestic attacks under Bush.” Dubbing American's Mayor "Mr. 9/11," Talking Points Memo points out that Sept. 11, 2001 was well into Bush’s tenure. As was shoe bomber Richard Reid's attempt to blow up a flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Intel Pick's Ouster a Victory for Lobbyists